Japan in Autumn: Art, Temples & Gardens

Description

• Be captivated by Kyoto’s Golden Pavilion, whose top floors shimmer with gold leaf, and the Silver Pavilion, once the retirement villa of a 13th century shogun

• Absorb the enchanting atmosphere of mountain-based Takayama, a World Heritage site containing a beautifully preserved old town

• The historical city of Kanazawa welcomes us with its traditional samurai residences and enthralling museums

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Journey from Tokyo to Kyoto on this multi-layered tour, which looks behind the mask of contemporary Japan to uncover the nation’s artistic, religious and cultural heritage.

We will sample local cuisine as we traverse the varied geography of the country, taking part in a traditional tea ceremony and spending a night in a typical ryokan in the historical city of Takayama, located in the ‘Japanese Alps’.

In Tokyo, meanwhile, we will delve into fascinating museums such as the Tokyo National Museum with its collections of calligraphy, woodblock prints and decorative arts, and stroll through the tranquil surroundings of the Meiji Shrine, dedicated to the Emperor Meiji and his consort.

Our exploration of the country’s religious heritage and its impact on art and architecture will continue in Kamakura, Japan’s first feudal capital. Here, we will visit the Tsurugaoka Hachimangū shrine, and see the Great Buddha, cast in bronze in 1252 and over 13 metres tall – one of the country’s most famous icons.

During its imperial reign, Nara flourished, and today the ancient city’s monuments create a vivid picture of life in the 8th century. Here, we will visit the Hōryū-ji Temple, the oldest surviving temple in Japan. Kyoto, the imperial capital for over 1000 years, also has an unrivalled array of religious architecture including the imposing Nijō Castle.

Whilst our tour is immersed in ancient culture, we will also take time to appreciate modern Japan, visiting the 21st century Museum of Contemporary Art and the DT Suzuki Museum in Kanazawa. We will observe how traditional craft-making skills have survived through the centuries, with visits to workshops, including that of a renowned potter who makes distinctive rustic Shigaraki ware.

We will stay in Japanese and western-style hotels of a high level of quality and comfort. Some travel will be via Japan’s trains and public transport, one of the best-developed systems in the world. When travelling by train, our luggage will be forwarded separately.

Please note that excursions will involve a substantial amount of walking, so a good level of fitness is required for this tour.

This tour will be led by Meri Arichi, MA, PhD, a Senior Teaching Fellow in the Department of Art and Archaeology at SOAS and principal tutor for the Japan and Korea module of the Diploma in Asian Art courses. Meri’s principal research interest is the Buddhist art of Japan, and she has previously taught at Birkbeck College and the Courtauld Institute of Art.

Day

5

Day

6

Transfer to Takayama (old town in mountainous countryside) by train for overnight stay in the Hidatei Hanaougi Ryokan Hotel, which enjoys natural hot springs. Afternoon walking tour of Takayama including Jinya (Edo period).

Day

7

Morning in Shirakawa-go (World Heritage site) including gassho-zukuri farmhouses and museum. Afternoon: transfer to Kanazawa for three nights at Daiwa Roynet Hotel. Evening lecture: Art and Culture of the Kaga Domain in the Edo Period.

Day

13

Day

14

Transfer via Uji Byōdō-in (Phoenix Hall) to Nara, the capital of Japan from 710 to 794, for two nights at Hotel Nikko. Afternoon: Hōryū-ji Temple (circa 670 AD) with important treasures of early Buddhist art.

Day

15

Morning lecture: History, Politics, Religion and Art of the Nara Period followed by visits to Kōfuku-ji Temple and Tōdai-ji Temple (Great Buddha). Some free time.